Choose a giant currant and raisin bun if you want to cut thick, generous slices at the Christmas market. Its larger size gives you more room to work with, but doesn’t guarantee that every slice will hold together. Standard currant buns in bags are better suited to pre-counted portions. Whichever you choose, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
Want to serve currant buns in generous slices, perhaps with a topping? The giant versions from PLUS and Lidl are a good starting point because of their larger size. Whether a slice holds together also depends on the bun itself and how you cut it.
If you want to count and portion the buns in advance, bags of six or eight make it easy to keep track. Check the storage instructions separately if you plan to buy them early and freeze them at home.
If you’re choosing based on allergen or nutritional information, the packaging for the exact variety matters more than its size. If needed, compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g and per portion, and check the current ingredients and allergen information.
First decide whether you mainly want to serve thick slices or a set number of portions. Then check the label to see whether the variety you’ve chosen meets your requirements for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Thick slices | Compare the size and, if stated, the weight of each bun. If you’re buying a large quantity, try cutting one to your preferred thickness first. | If I’m serving a generous slice with a topping, I want enough surface area, but I won’t assume size alone will prevent it from breaking. Being able to cut thick slices is the main priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check the number of buns per bag and the storage instructions. PLUS says that certain bags should be frozen on the day of purchase. | If I’m portioning them in advance, I want to be able to count the portions and know how to store the buns until serving. For around 25% of consumers, this planning is the main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the variety you’ve chosen, including any ‘may contain’ statements. If the buns are unpackaged, ask about allergens before buying. | If I’m buying for people with allergies, I need to know the ingredients in these particular buns. Around 25% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g, as well as the amount you’ll actually serve. | If I’m choosing a large bun, I want to know how its nutritional value compares with my slice or portion, not just with 100 g. This is the most important consideration for around 19% of consumers. |
A larger bun gives you more room to cut a thick slice, but its size alone doesn’t tell you whether the slice will stay intact when you cut or top it.
If you’re preparing a large quantity, cut one bun to your preferred thickness first and see whether the result is suitable for serving.
The products reviewed from brands including Jumbo and Albert Heijn list wheat and milk. Ingredients can vary between varieties, so the name ‘currant bun’ doesn’t tell you which allergens a particular bun contains.
Check the current packaging. If the buns are sold loose, ask about allergen information before buying.
The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So a product’s listing of iodised salt doesn’t tell you anything about other currant buns.
For packaged buns, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list. If the buns are unpackaged, ask the seller.
A thick slice or large bun may weigh more or less than 100 g. This means the table per 100 g won’t necessarily reflect the portion you’re serving.
As well as the nutritional values per 100 g, check the weight of each bun or the size of the portion you’ve chosen.
Lidl lists giant raisin and currant buns in a pack of 4 × 100 g, made with butter.
PLUS offers both bags of standard currant buns and packs of four giant currant and raisin buns.
Jumbo sells raisin and currant buns in a bag of six.
Albert Heijn sells ready-made raisin and currant buns and also publishes a recipe for homemade wholemeal currant buns.
ALDI lists raisin and currant buns in packs of six and giant raisin buns in packs of four.
No. A giant bun gives you more room to cut a generous slice, but doesn’t tell you how well it will hold together. Lidl lists its giant raisin and currant buns as 4 × 100 g, while PLUS sells giant currant and raisin buns in packs of four. If you’re preparing a large quantity, try cutting one to the thickness you want to serve first.
According to the product information, you can freeze certain PLUS currant buns at home on the day you buy them and use them within one month. Check the current packaging for your chosen variety to find out how to store and defrost it.
No. The rules for baker’s salt don’t mean that every bun contains iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds can be added to baked goods through baker’s salt, while the Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the ingredients list for the specific bun or ask the seller.
Before buying, ask for allergen information about the exact buns the stall is selling. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must also be provided to customers for unpackaged food. For prepacked buns, it’s shown on the label.
Check that the bun is actually sold as a wholemeal variety and compare the nutritional information on the packaging. Albert Heijn’s wholemeal recipe uses wholemeal wheat flour, but it’s for a homemade bun, not the ready-made white raisin and currant buns.
